Business

$5 Parking – Bringing New Life to Uptown and Downtown Business Areas

Oakland leaders gathered downtown in front of the Fox Theater at 1805 Telegraph Ave. to announce safety plans being launched under the city’s new program ‘Five After Five.’ This program allows workers and the community members to park at the Franklin Plaza Parking Garage, located at Franklin and 19th streets, for only five dollars after 5 p.m. on weekdays, and all day on weekends.

Published

1 year ago

November 7, 2023

Magaly Muñoz

Oakland City Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan spoke at thepress conference in front of the Fox Theater. City of Oakland photo.

By Magaly Muñoz
Post Staff

Oakland leaders gathered downtown in front of the Fox Theater at 1805 Telegraph Ave. to announce safety plans being launched under the city’s new program ‘Five After Five.’

This program allows workers and the community members to park at the Franklin Plaza Parking Garage, located at Franklin and 19^th streets, for only five dollars after 5 p.m. on weekdays, and all day on weekends.

The intention for the new program is to draw more visitors to downtown businesses while offering a secure parking location at the Franklin Parking Garage for customers and employees to leave their cars without fear of people breaking into them.

“More folks on the streets having fun, catching a show or catching dinner, that means that there’s going to be more people in the street and that means less crime and more business for our downtown merchants, which of course means we, the city, can collect those tax dollars and give it right back through services,” Mayor Sheng Thao said.

Speaking of the extended hours pilot parking program, Oakland City Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan said, “Thank you to everyone who worked together to help launch this important pilot program to enhance the vitality of our businesses and the safety of our community. I’m pleased we are able to provide secure parking and later hours, to better serve residents, customers, workers, and our growing restaurant and nightlife scene.”

According to Oakland Police Department crime reports, auto burglary is up 35% from last year and carjacking is up 24%.

Thao said the garage, with 373 available parking spots, will be open until 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday to encourage more nightlife activity in the area’s bars, restaurants, and theaters. The garage will be equipped with cameras and security to ensure a safer environment for patrons and their vehicles.

The new extended Franklin Parking garage hours are:

Monday through Wednesday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Thursday through Friday 7 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Saturday 12 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Sunday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Safety ambassadors and foot patrol units will be stationed along busy areas of the city, including Jack London Square, Fruitvale, the Laurel District and many more.

Another initiative to attract more foot traffic is the Activate Oakland grant that will provide recipients up to $10,000 in funds to organize events that support businesses and culture in Oakland. Recipients of the grants will be announced in the coming weeks.

Carroll Fife, councilmember for District 3, which includes the downtown area, stated that this plan has been a long time coming and it’s one of the measures they can take to make sure that businesses can thrive and stay in Oakland.

“This is just the beginning,” Fife said.

She acknowledged that more needed to be done to ensure that the community was transforming, but this program was a step in the right direction.

Along with the security personnel and cameras, Tony Leong, general manager of Fox Theater, said that the corridors leading to the Franklin Plaza garage will have better lighting so that those engaging in nightlife will feel safer walking to their cars.

He added that event parking used to be $20 in the parking garage, but with this program, the rates will be more affordable, and the garage will stay open until 1:30 a.m. so that people do not feel rushed to leave immediately after a concert or show.

“This is just the beginning of an improved corridor; it’s going to be safer and it’s going to be a lot more vibrant. We’re going to make sure foot traffic is up and that everyone is out and about around here,” Leong said.

With violent crime rates up 22% from 2022, the speakers were asked how a parking garage can ensure the safety of the community members walking the streets, just trying to enjoy their night.

Thao stated that the foot traffic will allow for more people to witness and catch the crimes. She added that there will also be more OPD officers patrolling the area on the weekends.

“It’s not so much about bringing people to the downtown area…the more people we have on the street, the more eyes and ears, we’re going to be able to be safer,” Thao said.

The ‘Five After Five’ program will operate throughout the holiday season. Once the holidays are over, the city of Oakland will assess the program’s impact and propose recommendations for its future.

Kimberly Jones, from the office of Oakland City Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan, contributed to this report.

Magaly Muñoz

A graduate of Sacramento State University, Magaly Muñoz’s journalism experience includes working for the State Hornet, the university’s student-run newspaper and conducting research and producing projects for “All Things Considered” at National Public Radio. She also was a community reporter for El Timpano, serving Latino and Mayan communities, and contributed to the Sacramento Observer, the area’s African American newspaper.

Muñoz is one of 40 early career journalists who are part of the California Local News Fellowship program, a state-funded initiative designed to strengthen local news reporting in California, with a focus on underserved communities.

The fellowship program places journalism fellows throughout the state in two-year, full-time reporting positions.

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Magaly Muñoz

A graduate of Sacramento State University, Magaly Muñoz’s journalism experience includes working for the State Hornet, the university’s student-run newspaper and conducting research and producing projects for “All Things Considered” at National Public Radio. She also was a community reporter for El Timpano, serving Latino and Mayan communities, and contributed to the Sacramento Observer, the area’s African American newspaper. Muñoz is one of 40 early career journalists who are part of the California Local News Fellowship program, a state-funded initiative designed to strengthen local news reporting in California, with a focus on underserved communities. The fellowship program places journalism fellows throughout the state in two-year, full-time reporting positions.

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of December 25 – 31, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 25 – 31, 2024

Published

10 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Bay Area

Glydways Breaking Ground on 14-Acre Demonstration Facility at Hilltop Mall

Glydways has been testing its technology at CCTA’s GoMentum Station in Concord for several years. The company plans to install an ambitious 28-mile Autonomous Transit Network in East Contra Costa County. The new Richmond facility will be strategically positioned near that project, according to Glydways.

Published

3 days ago

December 24, 2024

Oakland Post

Image of planned Richmond facility courtesy of Glydways.

The Richmond Standard

Glydways, developer of microtransit systems using autonomous, small-scale vehicles, is breaking ground on a 14-acre Development and Demonstration Facility at the former Hilltop Mall property in Richmond, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) reported on social media.

Glydways, which released a statement announcing the project Monday, is using the site while the mall property undergoes a larger redevelopment.

“In the interim, Glydways will use a portion of the property to showcase its technology and conduct safety and reliability testing,” the company said.

The new Richmond development hub will include “over a mile of dedicated test track, enabling Glydways to refine its solutions in a controlled environment while simulating real-world conditions,” the company said.

Visitors to the facility will be able to experience on-demand travel, explore the control center and visit a showroom featuring virtual reality demonstrations of Glydways projects worldwide.

The hub will also house a 13,000-square-foot maintenance and storage facility to service the growing fleet of Glydcars.

“With this new facility [at the former Hilltop Mall property], we’re giving the public a glimpse of the future, where people can experience ultra-quiet, on-demand transit—just like hailing a rideshare, but with the reliability and affordability of public transit,” said Tim Haile, executive director of CCTA.

Janet Galvez, vice president and investment officer at Prologis, owner of the Hilltop Mall property, said her company is “thrilled” to provide space for Glydways and is continuing to work with the city on future redevelopment plans for the broader mall property.

Richmond City Manager Shasa Curl added that Glydways’ presence “will not only help test new transit solutions but also activate the former Mall site while preparation and finalization of the Hilltop Horizon Specific Plan is underway.

Oakland Post

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Activism

2024 in Review: 7 Questions for Outgoing Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln

Lincoln’s decision to run for mayor stemmed from his love of people and his desire to serve his city. He prioritized resolving issues, including homelessness and public safety, among others. Lincoln, a Republican, will transition out of his role as mayor on Dec. 31, after an unsuccessful campaign to represent the 9th Congressional District.

Published

3 days ago

December 24, 2024

Oakland Post

Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln. Photo provided by California Black Media.

Kevin Lincoln, outgoing mayor of Stockton, CA, captured during his tenure as a leader dedicated to the city’s progress and community engagement.

By Edward Henderson
California Black Media

Born in Stockton, Mayor Kevin Lincoln says his Army upbringing inspired him to serve others.

Lincoln joined the United States Marine Corps in 2001 and was later assigned to Marine One, serving during President George W. Bush’s administration.

Following his military service, Lincoln worked for one of the nation’s top private security companies for eight years in Silicon Valley. In 2013, he resigned from his corporate position to give back to his community in Stockton through full-time ministry at a local church.

Lincoln’s decision to run for mayor stemmed from his love of people and his desire to serve his city. He prioritized resolving issues, including homelessness and public safety, among others.

Lincoln, a Republican, will transition out of his role as mayor on Dec. 31, after an unsuccessful campaign to represent the 9^th Congressional District.

Recently, California Black Media (CBM) spoke with Lincoln. He reflected on his accomplishments this year and his goals moving forward.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Looking back at 2024, what stands out to you as your most important achievement and why? 

What I prioritize for our city council is our youth. They are the future — not only our city, but this region as a whole.

We were able to invest over $6 million in youth programming and workforce development, and partner with 14 different community-based organizations. We were able to employ over 600 young people through the city of Stockton. We launched even our first ever summer jobs program for the city of Stockton.

How did your leadership and investments contribute to improving the lives of Black Californians? 

It’s about giving people a seat at the table, and not necessarily waiting for people to come to me, but me going to the community, making myself accessible, meeting our community at the point of their need, where they’re at.

What frustrated you the most over the last year?

It’s politics. Because unfortunately, there’s politics in everything. And I say politics impedes progress. You can have a policy, a solution that may not necessarily be 100% perfect. But it’s a good solution for everybody. But because we allow politics to get in the way based off our personal ideologies, oftentimes we can miss opportunities to make an impact for the benefit of the whole.

What inspired you the most over the last year?

My biggest inspiration has been the community and our ability to work together. What’s unique about Stockton, one in 20 jobs are nonprofit jobs in the city of Stockton and even San Joaquin County.

What is one lesson you learned in 2024 that will inform your decision-making next year?

To stay focused. In politics, there’s a lot of opportunity for distractions. There are a lot of influences from the outside — good, bad and indifferent. It’s important to stay focused, have a clear vision, and be committed to that vision.

In one word, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians face?

Economics. When the economy is not healthy, when we’re not thriving, we’re limited. Opportunities are limited.

What is the goal you want to achieve most in 2025?

I just want to continue to be a servant leader and serve our community in whatever capacity I am in.